Thermostatic control device



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,659

H. E. REEVE THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed March 21, 1922 I 6 i gmx (;E%WX$l 14 Fig. 2- 5 15 13 I,

INVENTOR Hnry eeve, ATBRNEY.

Patented Dec. 27 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY E. REEVE, OF NEW YORKfiN'. Y.; HELEN REEVE EXECUTE/IX OF SAIlD HENRY E.

REEVE, DECEASED.

THEBMOSTATIC' CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed March 21,

The main object of my invention is to provide practical means for automatically making and breaking a power.circuit or for otherwise exerting power greater. than that supplied by the direct action of a thermostat upon change in temperature. Such a device should be sensitive and yet durable and reliable.

I have so designed and arranged the parts that the actuating circuit is closed or completed by means of athermostat and opened automatically by quick-break electro-me-l chanical action. The thermostat itself never 7 directly opens the circuit.

Besides the mam power circuit switch. which is operated directly by electro-magneticaction, my invention contemplates the use of a thermostatic'switch which makes or closes the circuit of the electro-magnetic device and a quick-break switch which opens the circuit of the electro-magnetic device.

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic View of apparatus embodying the improvements of my invention;

Fig.2 is a detail edge view of the contactsof a thermostatic switch. I

The circuit to be controlled in the particular form herein shown has two stationary switch contacts 5 anda movable member 6. The movable member tnay be connected to the armature 7. but insulated from it, and both may be supported by the pivot 8, so that when the armature 7 moves between the poles of the magnet coils 9 and 10, the switch member6 opens and closes the main' circuit. y

Current for energizing the operating magnets 9 and 10 is provided by any suitable means, such for instance as. the battery 11. I t

The thermostatic switch has a thermostatic element located at a point where the temperature changes occur, and "may consist of a suitable form of thermostatic element- 12 and a switch arm 13, which may be pivotally supported so as'to swing back and forth across the contact members 14 and 1.5. The switch contact 14 is so constructed. that it may stand above or below the plane of the member 15 in order to permit the contact 1922. Serial 1%. 545,421.

member 13 to snap down either from 14 to 15, or from 15 to 14, as conditions may require.

The quick-break switch has a member 16 pivoted at 17. The two contacts 18 and 19 are adapted to engage respectively the stationary contacts 20 and 21. The contacts 18 and 19 may be formed as arms of the member 16. Between the arms 18 and 19 a throwing member 22 ispivoted at 23. This carries two pins or projections 24 and 25 adapted to engage respectively the arms 18 and 19, and to be engaged by the end 26 of the armature 7. A. spring 27 pulls on the member 28 which engages the finger 29'ot the throwing member 22. One of the swinging members 16, 22 or 28 (in this case 16) carries an extension 30 for-co-acting in Fig. 1. .When the switch member 16 is oscillated so that the contact arm19 engages the contact 21,- the extension 30 leaves the support, for thecontact 14 and permits the spring supportedcontact 14 to drop down below the level of the contact 15.

' When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that although the thermostatic switch arm 13 is on the contact 14, there is no connection between the contacts 19 and 21. Both magnets are therefore dead. In case the temperature changes so as to swing the arm 13 over onto the contact 15,the circuit may be traced from the battery 11 through the thermostatic coil 12, arm 13, contact 15, coil 10, contacts 20 and 18', and thence back to thebattery. The coil the member 28 past the line of centers fI'OII1 tact arm 13 back again from 15 to 14, but' as there is no current flowing through the 'arm 13 when it leaves the contact 15, there will be no sparking at this point. When the contact 13 again reaches the contact 14, circuit will be established, this time through the contacts 19-and 21, which will energize the coil 9 and throw the armature 7 back I with a-snap construction without departing from the again into the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to again close the main or power circuit.

As the extension 30 comes back to the posi tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will raise the contact 14 and the contact 13 above the level of 15, and'thus place the contacts in proper pbsition for the next thermostatic change. I x J i It will be noted that the thermostatically moved-arm 13 can not touch the live Contact 15 ,at all until it snaps off from the elevated contact 14 and just as soon as this occurs the contact 14 drops below 15. It is impossible therefore for the contact 13 to flutter back and forth against a live contact and burn out the contacts. I

It will be noted that the construction is such that the switch meinber 16 never has any substantial movement until the throwing member 22 is substantially ready to act action on the impulse of the spring 27. l

It should be understood that many modications may be made in many details of spirit or scope of my invention, as I have simply illustrated one means for carrying the invention into efl'ect.

claim:

11.- In an apparatus of the character described, the' combination of two electromagnetic coils, an armature re-acting to the same, a source of current and connections from said source to said coils including a thermostatically operated switch and a quick-break switch, said armature being movable for a substantial distance with respect to the coils without operating said quick break.'switch, said quick-break switch being actuated by said* armature to break the electrical connection, said thermostatic switch havi g a thermostatically operated.

member an two contacts adapted to be alternately engaged thereby to make an electrical connection one of said thermostatic switch contacts being acted upon .by said quick break switch.

2 In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of two clectromag netic coils, an armature re-acting to the" same, a source of current and connections from said source to said coils including a thermostatically operated switch and a quick-break switch, said quick-break switch being actuated by said armature to break the electrical connection, said thermostatic switch serving only to make an electrical connection, and means operated by said quick-break switch for changing the position of a part of the thermostatic switch.

3.- In an apparatus of the character described, a quick-break switch including Sta,- tionary contacts and a swinging member, an electromagnetically operated device for initiating the movement of said swinging member, but having a substantial initial movement independent of said swinging member, a thermostatically operated switch for permitting the energizing of the said electromagnetically operated device, means for completing the movement of said swing ing member, said thermostatically operated switch including a thermostatic member and a spring contact adapted to be engaged thereby, said swinging member having, a projection for moving said spring contact.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a quick-break switch including stationary contacts and a swinging member, an

electromagnetically operated device for initiating the movement of said swinging member, and a thermostatically operated switch for permitting the energizing of the said electromagnetically operated device,

said electromagnetically operated switch having acontact operated by said swinging member, said thermostatically operated switch having a thermostatic member and a movable contact adapted to ,be engaged thereby, said swinging member having a portion adapted to coact with said movable contact. r

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of switch contacts having substantially parallel contact faces, a thermostatically opemted switch member adapted to move a contact from the face of one to the other, and means for automatically raising one of said contacts after said switch operated contact making member, and means for operating said circuit breaker including said movable member. I I

7. The combination of a thermostatically operated contact, an electric switch, electromagnetically controlled means for initiating the movement of said switch, separate means for completing the movement of said switch, two contact members adapted to be engaged by said thermostatically operated contact, means including said electromagnetically controlled means for causing said thermostatically operated contact-to move quickly and positively from one of said contact members to the other, and means operative from one of said previously mentioned devicesto actuate a power actuated device.

8. The combination of a thermostatically operated contact, two contacts with which the thermostatically. operated contact successively engages, a movable member, electromagnetic means for initiating the movement thereof, separate means. for completing the movement thereof, and automatic means for so positioning one of said contacts with respect to the other as to compel said thermostatic operable contact to make contact quickly and positively, said means including said movable member. a

9. The combination of a thermostatically operable member, a movable member in the path of said thermostatically operated member, means including said thermostatically operated member for initiating the movement of said movable member, means for completing the movement thereof, and an electromagnetic member whose energizing current is controlled by the thermostatic operating member, means operated by the said electromagnetic member for moving said movable member, and means for operating a power exerting member. T a

, 10. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of electric contacts, having approximately parallel contact faces, a thermostatically operable switch member adapted to move a contact from the face of one contact to the face of another, and means for automatically raising one of said pair of contacts after said switch member contact engages it and lowering said contact after said switch contact leaves it.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an electromagnetically actuated member, a source of cur rent and connections from said source to said electromagnetically actuated member, sald connections, including av thermostatically.

operated switch and a quick break switch, said quick break switch being operated by said electromagnetically actuated member to break the electrical connection, said thermostatic switch serving only to make an elec trical connection, and means operated by said quick break switch for changing the position of a part of the thermostatically operated" switch, I

12. In an apparatus of the character descrlbed, a pair of switch contacts, one of which is movable with respect to the other,

a thermostatically operated switch member adapted to make contact with said switch contacts during its movement, automatic means for positioning one of said switch bers, a thermostatically operated contact member making contact alternately with said two other contact members, automatic means for so positioning said thermostatically operated contact member as to cause it to make a quick contact with one of the said two contact members, said means including a member whose action. is initiated electromagnetically and completed by the action of other means, and means including a friction member for eliminating injurious recoil upon the making of an electric contact between the thermostatically operated contact member and one of said two contact'members, and

electromagnetic means under control of the thermostatically operated contact member for operating any suitable device.

14. The combination of a thermostatically operated contact member, a movable member, electromagnetic means for initiating the movement of said movable member, other means for completing the movement of said movable member, means for compelling said thermostatically operated contact member to move with a snap action from one position to another, said compelling means including said'movable member, and means for operating another device, said operating means being controlled by said electromagnetic means and said thermostatically operated contact member. a

15. The combination of two contact members, a thermostatically operated contact member positioned to make contact alternately with said two contact members, automatic, means for positioning said thermostatically operated contact member so as to cause it to make a quick contact withone or the other of said contact members, said automatic means including a movable member, electromagnetic means for initiating the movement of said movable member, other means for completing the movement of said movable member, and means for operating another device, said operating means being controlled electromagnetically and by said thermostatically opera-ted Contact.

'16. In an apparatus of the character described, two contact members, a thermostatically operated contact member adapted to engage alternately with said two contact members, a movable member, electromagnetic means controlled by said thermostatically operated contact member for initiating the movement of said movable member, separate means for completing the movement of said movable member, means actuated by and during the latter part of the movement of said movable, member for so contact member as to compel it to make a 1 quick contact with one of said two contact I members in the course of its movement, and

means for operating another device, said operating means being controlled QIECtI'O magnetically and thermostatically. I

' HENRY .E. REEVE. 

